Winter is here!

Time for getting cozy with a favorite child and a favorite book! My dear friend Carol insists that Rainbow Stew is her adorable one-year-old grandson's favorite book, and I'm thrilled, of course. Here is Tobin with his Opa Carol. He certainly looks like he's focused on the story!

Rainbow Stew meets Alphabet Soup!

Very pleased to toot my horn about Jama Rattigan's post about my new book, Rainbow Stew, on her blog, Jama's Alphabet Soup. She sent me a lot of interesting questions and a list of photo requests, and then she put it all together for a very nice piece. Even my Dad liked it! Here are a couple of the photos from the post. Read the rest on her blog.
Jama is also an author of children's books. You can check out her official website here.

My kids in the garden, many years ago

My Dad with the three of us, many MANY years ago!

Rainbow Stew!

Rainbow Stew is here! My copies arrived today, and more are on their way to bookstores.

The book also has a website of its very own: http://www.RainbowStewBook.com/

Please check it out as it develops for recipes, craft ideas, gardening projects and more.

Hurrah! Hooray!

Jumping for joy! I have finished the art for my new book, Rainbow Stew, and delivered it to my editor at Lee & Low Books. It will be released next Spring!

Many New Things

It's Spring in Maine, and time to start planning the garden. I've got a few things sprouting in peat pots in the kitchen window, and although it's exciting to see the new young shoots, it's still not warm enough to put them in the ground. In my studio, though, the garden is bursting to life. I'm working on a new book called Rainbow Stew, which Lee & Low Books will release next year. Three siblings visit their Grandpa, who invites them into his garden to pick all the colors of the rainbow, and then back inside to help make the yummy veggie stew. Since I've just entered a new decade (wince...) I've decided it's time to try something new: I'm experimenting with a new illustration style. I'm still using cut-paper collage (which I've used in 26 books) but since this book really needs lots of detail, I've added line. Here's a sample. I'd be delighted to hear your thoughts.